The heart is one of the most vital organs in the human body, so maintaining heart health so that it can function optimally is highly recommended. Moreover, the fact that heart disease is one of the main causes of death in Indonesia makes us have to take more care of our heart health.
The importance of maintaining heart health
Heart disease is commonly referred to as the silent killer because this disease often appears suddenly and often takes the lives of sufferers. The heart has a function as a blood pump that contains nutrients and oxygen and distributes them throughout the body. When the heart is no longer able to perform this function due to certain diseases or conditions, it can lead to death. Therefore, maintaining heart health as early as possible is very important to do, especially during a pandemic like now.
How to maintain heart health
Here are 5 easy tips that you can do at home to keep your heart healthy:
- Exercise regularly
Good exercise to maintain heart health is running, walking, swimming, or aerobics. The pandemic should not be used as an excuse not to exercise, because it can still be done at home. It is enough to do sports for 30 minutes 5-7 times a week. That way, the heart will be more primed in carrying out its duties, and can help control weight. - Avoid cigarettes
If you have a smoking habit, stop it right now. Smoking can cause damage to blood vessels which will result in a lack of oxygen and nutrients to be distributed throughout the body. - Get enough rest
After a day of activities, don't forget to rest and get quality sleep for at least six to eight hours a day. Research states that sleep deprivation at night will impact on heart damage. By having quality sleep, the risk of heart attack will be minimized. - Consume healthy food
Start consuming foods with balanced nutrition such as vegetables, fruit, fish, and white meat. Avoid foods that contain coconut milk, fried foods, seafood , salty foods, fast food and processed foods too often. - Consume green tea
Green tea contains antioxidants which function to prevent damage to blood vessels. Two cups of green tea without sugar consumed every day is very good for maintaining heart health. In addition to heart health, green tea is also very beneficial for relieving stress.
If you have ever had a heart ring placed, in addition to doing the 5 tips above, don't forget to always take medicines that have been prescribed by your cardiologist.
How to know if the heart is healthy or not
There are several ways to find out if your heart is healthy, the first is by regularly measuring your blood pressure. It is said to be normal if the number shows 120/80 or less. The second is to check your pulse, it is said to be normal if the number shows 50-70. No less important, you can also do a medical check-up at least once every six months.
That's the importance of maintaining heart health as well as tips to keep your heart healthy that are easy to do even if it's just at home. Take care of your heart health from now on to avoid various risks of heart disease.
Article reviewed by dr. Yosua Arthur Iskandar, Sp. JP (Cardiologist and Blood Vessel Specialist at EMC Hospital Tangerang).